SHAWNEE MISSION, KAN. - Sonic Industries, the Oklahoma-based fast-food chain, moved it's $15-million account to Barkley & Evergreen here after a five-agency shoot-out, and one of the incumbent's execs came along for the ride.
In an unusual arrangement, Sonic made a deal with all five agencies individually that the winning agency would have to hire Oklahoma City-based Ad Inc.'s vp/field services John Nied. The deal was made to help smooth over the transition between the two agencies, since the winning includes a majority of the company's co-op business.
Beside the corporate business, Barkley & Evergreen will handle roughly 75% of the 54 co-ops. Because of the extensive co-op work, Barkley & Evergreen will open five field offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, Okla.
'Sonic had worked out a transition agreement that included bringing John over,' said Barkley & Evergreen president William Fromm. 'I'd have to say that Sonic did a hell of a job in protecting their franchisees in all of this.'
Sources said other finalists were Fogarty & Klein/Winius Brandon of Houston; Rockett, Burkhead, Lewis & Winslow, Raleigh, N.C.; Cramer-Krasselt/Chicago; and Townsend O'Leary of Laguna Hills, Calif.
Copyright Adweek L.P. (1993)